Parliament gears up for monsoon session: Key points

NEW DELHI: Parliament is fully prepared for the 18-day Monsoon Session from Monday under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic with many firsts, including sitting of the two Houses in shifts without any off day, entry only to those having a negative Covid-19 report and compulsory wearing of masks.
Frisking of people will also make way for touch-less security scanning, while thermal scanning will also be totally touch-free.
Here are some key points:
Covid protocol for Parliament session
* In run-up to the session, while over 4,000 people including MPs and staff have been tested for Covid-19, most parliamentary operations have been digitalized, entire premises sanitised and doors made touch-free.
* The first-of-its-kind Monsoon Session will see Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha sitting in two different shifts, while special seating arrangements have been made for MPs in adherence to social distancing guidelines.
* Barring the first day, Rajya Sabha will convene in morning shift from 9am till 1pm, and Lok Sabha in evening shift from 3pm to 7pm. The chambers of both Houses along with their respective galleries will be used for sitting of the members in each shift. In between the two shifts, the entire complex will be sanitised.
* A new seating arrangement following social distancing guidelines has been prepared by both houses for their respective members.
* The DRDO will also provide multi-utility Covid-19 kits to all MPs. Each kit will contain 40 disposable masks, five N-95 masks, 20 bottles of sanitisers of 50 ml each, face shields, 40 pairs of gloves, a touch-free hook to open and close doors without touching them, herbal sanitation wipes and tea bags to enhance immunity.
Opposition demands discussion on LAC standoff, economic slowdown
* Opposition parties have sought a discussion in Lok Sabha on the issues of economic slowdown, unemployment and standoff between Indian and Chinese forces during a meeting of floor leaders of the House on Sunday to discuss the agenda for the Monsoon Session, DMK leader TR Baalu said.
* The DMK leader said he has also sought a discussion on issues such as revising the creamy layer for OBC and non-payment of states' share of revenue collected under GST.
* Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also said on Sunday that his party wants a discussion in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the situation at the border with China and the state of the economy.
* He also mentioned “closure of businesses and the state of the MSME industry, the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and other issues like airport privatisation, the draft EIA notification."
* A day before the start of the session, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla chaired the meeting of the business advisory committee of the lower house. Birla told reporters after the meeting that the leaders of all parties have assured their support for the smooth functioning of the House.
Congress, other parties to oppose 4 legislations
* The Congress and other opposition parties will oppose four of the 11 legislations the government proposes to bring in the Monsoon Session of Parliament in place of ordinances issued earlier and expect Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reply to their concerns.
* Party leader Jairam Ramesh said the Congress is in touch with other like-minded parties and has decided to strongly oppose the three agriculture-related legislations and the amendment to the Banking Regulation Act in both Houses of Parliament.
* He said the four ordinances -- three related to the farm sector and the amendment to the Banking Regulation Act -- take away the rights of the states and lead to further centralisation of power.
47 items to be taken up
* A total of 47 items (includes 45 Bills and 02 financial items) have been identified for being taken up during the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning from Monday, according to a release by the ministry of parliamentary affairs.
* The total eleven Bills replacing the ordinance namely The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Prices Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, The Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020, The Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020, The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020, The Insolvency & Bankruptcy (Second) Amendment Bill, 2020, The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, The Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020, The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020, The Salary and Allowances of Ministers (Amendment) Bill, 2020, The Salary, Allowances, and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2020 are required to be passed during the Monsoon Session.
No all-party meeting ahead of monsoon session
* Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi will not be holding an all-party meeting before the Monsoon Session of Parliament in the wake of Covid-19.
* An all-party meeting is conferred before the commencement of parliamentary sessions to discuss the agenda and set targets.
* However, a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee of Rajya Sabha was held today in the Parliament.
Lok Sabha MPs to mark attendance through mobile app
* In a first, Members of Parliament in Lok Sabha will have to register their attendance digitally using a mobile application - Attendance Register App amid coronavirus pandemic.
* According to sources, the app is designed by the National Informatics Centre to curtail the risk of Covid-19 spread as they will not have to use or touch the attendance register.
* MPs have to be present inside the Parliament to register themselves using the coordinates provided by the app.
No Question Hour and private members' bills; curtailed Zero Hour
* There will be no Question Hour and private members' bills will not be taken up in the upcoming Parliament session, while the Zero Hour will be restricted, notifications issued by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats said.
* There will also be no breaks during the session, which will be held from September 14 to October 1, and both Houses will function on Saturdays and Sundays as well, they said.
* "There will be no Question Hour during the Session. In view of the request of the government owing to prevailing extraordinary situation due to Covid-19, the Speaker has directed that no day be fixed for transaction of Private Members' Business during the Session," the Lok Sabha Secretariat said in a notification.
In Video:Monsoon session of Parliament: 11 ordinances, 45 bills to be taken up